RoadVitals

1998 Mercedes-Benz 320

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Dec 14, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Mercedes-Benz 320, most frequently naming the visibility, fuel system and brakes categories.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility612.5%
  • Fuel system510.4%
  • Brakes510.4%
  • Steering510.4%
  • Interior & seats48.3%
  • Engine48.3%
  • Exterior lighting48.3%
  • Suspension36.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 39
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 14, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MERCEDES BENZ 320. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD CAME OFF OF THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE TIRE TREAD DAMAGED THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $6000. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO MAIL THE BRIDGESTONE INSIGNIA,TIRE SIZE 225/60/R16 TO THEM FOR A REFUND; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDED VIA MAIL THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES TO HER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

NHTSA ID
10295668
Incident
Nov 14, 2009
Mileage
185,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 2, 2008

DRIVING DOWN ROAD IN 1998 MERCEDEZ E320, JUST EXITED NJ TURNPIKE AT EXIT 2, HEARD LOUD NOISE CAR VEERED TO LEFT AND LARGE SPRING DROPPED OUT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223203
Incident
Apr 2, 2008
Mileage
115,287 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 8, 2006

HEAD LAMP COVERS ON THE MERCEDES "E" CLASS TURN FROM CLEAR TO A FOGY TRANSLUCENT OVER TIME. ONCE THE HEAD LIGHT LENS TURNS TRANSLUCENT THE HEAD LIGHT BEAM IS NO LONGER ABLE TO TRANSMIT LIGHT AS FAR DOWN THE ROAD AS THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURES SPECIFICATION. THE HEAD LAMP IS ALSO NO LONGER CAPABLE OF TRANSMITTING LIGHT AS TO THE U.S. DOT STANDARDS. THIS SITUATION LEAD TO AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION FOR ALL DRIVERS OF THE "E" CLASS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10172946
Incident
Nov 8, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT SIDE AND SWERVED. THE VEHICLE ALMOST HIT AN 18 WHEELER. ONCE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS REGAINED, IT WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO THE NEAREST INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP DETERMINED THAT A SPRING MUST HAVE FALLEN OFF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE DEALER'S BODY SHOP SPECIALIST DETERMINED THAT CORROSION MUST HAVE CAUSED THIS PROBLEM WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY SALT. WHEN THE DEALER WAS ASKED HOW OFTEN DEFECTS OF THIS NATURE OCCUR, THE DEALER RESPONSE WAS NEVER. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF THE COST OF THE REPAIR, HOWEVER THE CONTACT WAS NOT CONCERNED ENTIRELY ABOUT THE COST. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN REGARDING SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE; THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE CONTACT REMAINS UNCOMFORTABLE AND INSISTS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.

NHTSA ID
10160370
Incident
Jun 15, 2006
Mileage
109,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 2, 2005

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH 1998 MERCEDES BENZ. THE SHOCK HOUSING CAME APART FROM THE CHASSIS. THE CHASSIS COLLAPSED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE WHEEL. THERE WAS NO SUSPENSION ON THE FRONT END. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WAS THE SHOCK HOUSING. MECHANIC FIXED THE CAR WITH AN ADDITIONAL AFTER MARKET BRACKET. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CAR. THE MERCEDES BENZ ORGANIZATION CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. CONSUMER DID FILED A COMPLAINT WHILE TALKING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10131126
Incident
Jul 25, 2005
Mileage
92,200 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2004

ENGINE CONSTANTLY LOOSES OIL, POTENTIAL TO LOCK ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093566
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Steering
Filed Feb 10, 2004

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT POWER STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE AN ESSENTIAL PART WAS MISSING. *AK THERE WAS LOW FLUID. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE POWER STEERING CYLINDER LEAKED INTO THE BOOT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10046094
Incident
Oct 30, 2003
Mileage
89,941 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 19, 2003

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHILE DOWNSHIFTING TO CONTROL DOWNHILL SPEED SHIFT LEVER MOVED BETWEEN ALL SHIFT POSITIONS WITHOUT ENGAGING IN ANY GEAR, AND VEHICLE WAS FREEWHEELING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10011321

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercedes-Benz 320 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002110025.7
2001170031.8
2000170041.2
1999300033.0
1998Viewing390034.4
1997190038.2
1996140032.4
1995290044.2
1994491049.1

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.